Carbureter.



. W. M. FULTON.

CARBURETER.

APPLICATION FILEDl APR. ll, 19.13.y

lgmm., Patenten@ 6,1915.v

' 'iii am vente@ UIT @AE FAT WESTON 1VI. FULTON, 0F KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR TO THE FULTON COMPANY, j

OF KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE, A CORPORATION OE MAINE.

CARBURETER.

Specification of Letters lliatent.l

Patented July 6, 1915.

Application led April 11, 1913. Serial No. 760,491.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, WESTON M. FULTON, of Knoxville, Tennessee, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Carbureters, which invention is fully set forth in the following specification.

This invention relates to carbureters designed for use with internal combustion engines, and more'particularly to that class of carbureters wherein means are employed for controlling the temperature of the incoming air or of the outgoing air and combustible vapor.

The primary object of the invention is to provide in a carbureter, in which the temperature of the incoming ,air is maintained practically uniform, automatic means for controlling supply of the liquid fuel to the air passing through the carbureter whereby an approximately uniform mixture of air and combustible vapor is delivered to the engine to give therein, at all times, the maxlmum explosive effect of the mlxture wlthout requiring attention of the operator to manu-` ally adjust the supply of vapor to the air.

A further object of the invention is to enable a mixture of air and combustible vapor in predetermined proportions to be delivered to the engine without'- attention of the operator whatever may be the speed of the engine.

A further object of the invention 1s to i maintain a substantially constant composition of the explosive mixture delivered toI the engine inf the manner above stated, and at the same time to regulate the temperature of this mixture by the automatic control of the liquid fuel vaporized into the air current passing through the carbureter v vherebyY greater power and smoother runnmg 1s secured in the engine. v

The above and other objects will be more fully explained Iin the detailed description.

Heretofore carbureters have been provided with auxiliary means for maintaining the temperature constant of the incoming air or of the outgoing mixture of air and hydrocarbon vapor. This result is usually attained by uniting currents of hot and cold air and controlling the relative quantity of eachby means of a thermosensitive element located in some part of the path traversed by the united currents either before or the temperature of the incoming air and accomplishes the above objects by providing in combination a carbureter having means for controlling the temperature of the incoming air and thermosensitive means subject to the influence of the temperature of the mixture of air and hydrocarbon or other inflammable vapor for controlling the supply of the carbureting medium whereby the composition of the combustible mixture may be. maintained substantially constant for all demands on the carbureter. This arrangement will also maintain the temperature of the combustible mixture substantially constant.

The invention also provides adjusting means which are associated with thermosensitive means for enabling a mixture of air and vapor in predetermined proportions to be at all times delivered by the carbureter.

In the accompanying drawing, I have shown one constructional form of my invention, but such drawing is intended merely as an illustration to assist the description and not as defining the limits of the invention.

The figure in the drawing is .a vertical central sectional view with interior parts in elevation of a carbureter provided with my improvements.

The .carbureter caslng is preferably conf and a discharge outlet 5. The lower sectlon 1' is provided with -a liquid fuel reservoir 6 of annular form in which is located a float 7 or similar form fast to one end of a pivoted' lever 8, -to the opposite end of which lever is connected a needle valve 9 through trolled by a needle valve 13 provided with a lug l5' by nut 35. The opposite end of lever 33 guide pin 14. j

For the .purpose of controlling the temparature of the air entering the carbureter any means suitable for the purpose may be employed. By way of illustration, I have shown one form of device well adapted for the purpose, but make no claim to its speciic construction. This device comprises a conduit 15 provided with a flange portion 16 adapted to be secured to a corresponding flanged portion 17 on, the air intake member 4 of theacarbureter by means of bolts 18.

rllhis conduit 15 receives air at atmospheric temperature through a branch pipe 19 and heated air through a second branchpipe 20. Butterfly dampers 21, 22 connected by a link 23 pivoted to the dampers control these openings into pipe 15. lny an enlarged portion of-pipe l5 is located a thermostatic' vibratory vessel 24, the end wallsI of which are non-fleXible. As shown in the drawing,

the upper end wall is provided with a hub.

25 having a reduced threaded end 26 which passes through an opening Lin a screw cap 27 in conduit 15, and is secured thereto by a lock nut 28. rlhe end of the member 25 is provided with a slot 29 to receive a tool for holding it against rotation while manipulating nut 28. The upper end wall of the vessel is thus supported and held stationary. The lower end wall of the vessel 24 is movable and is provided with a hub 30 having a threaded recess for receiving a power transmitting member 31 which has a pivoted connection 32 with a lever 33. rlhe righthand end of this lever is pivoted to a slotted 34 securely held in the wall of conduit is provided with fork 36 for making `loose connection with link 23 through pin 37 on the link. For the purpose of adjusting the system to maintain a given temperature of air passing the thermostat, an adjustable spring-pressure is applied to the vessel 24. Housed in a recess in the wall of conduit is a spring 38, the lower end of which rests on a plate 39 adapted to be moved by a thumb -screw 40 playing in a threaded opening in the wall. rlhe upper end of the spring 38 presses against the lower end of member 31 and is held in position by a reduced portion of member 31 entering the coil of the spring.

o heater for the air has been illustrated, as means for this purpose are well-known and understood in this art nor is it .deemed necessary to give a specific description of the operation of this form of temperature regulator, since a description of the prinideama ciple of its operation may be found in lU. S. Patent to Lund 1,017,572. llt is sufficient to state that`when air passes through the carbureter the thermostat operates on the change of temperature in the' air surrounding it whether above or below a predetermined temperature to operate the dampers 21, 22, and thereby regulatethe proportions of the warm and cold air to maintain a constant temperature of the air entering the carbureter.

The means which l have illustrated for controlling the supply of hydrocarbon or other liouid fuel for carbureting the air preferably consists of a thermosensitive vibrating vessel 41 ofthe corrugated metal type located in the path of the air current at a point beyond Where the liquid fuel Ais sprayed into the carbureter. 'll` he end walls of this vessel, like vessel 24, are non-flexible, one of which is stationary and the other is adapted to move. The end wall at the right provided with a shouldered hub 42 adapted to bear against the wall of the casing and is.

furnished with a threaded end for receiving a lock nut 43 and with a slot 44 for receiving a tool for holding against rotation of the hub when the nut 43 is applied. The opposite end wall is provided with a hub 30 having a threaded recess for receiving a small shaft 45 on which are formed two shoulders 46. Hub 42 and small shaft 45 are supported in bearings 47, 48, formed in the wall of section 2. The cap members for these bearings are formed in the casing of section 3 asshown in the illustration. The connections between this vessel and valve 13 comprise a bell-crank lever 49 pivoted at its elbow to a lug 50 on the casting of section 2. 'lo reduce friction at this bearing, the pivot support is preferably formed with a knife edge. The horizontal arm of the bellcrank lever 49 is connected at its extremity through a pivot joint 51 with theA stem of valve 13. The vertical arm of the lever 49 is provided with a fork straddling the shaft 45 between shoulders 46.

ln order to adjust the movements of the thermosensitive element 41 and the valve 13 connected therewith, means are provided for applying a yielding pressure on the vessel. rl`hese means consist of a rod 52 in one end of which is a threaded recess receiving an adjusting screw 53 the stem of which passes Athrough the wall of the casting and is prolio vided withI threaded openings 56 normally closed by screw plugs 57 58. These openings are for receiving thermometers which are used for calibrating the apparatus. Near the discharge end of the carbureter is located a throttle valve 59 provided with external connections for operating it and also a spring-pressed inwardly opening valve 60 for giving access to the atmosphere.

61 is a cap closing an opening in the wall of section 1 through which to adjust valves 9 and 62 are bolts used for securing the sections together.

lIn operating my device, the proportions of vapor to air in the mixture discharged from the carbureter are maintained constant in the following manner: The parts of the device are assumed to have been assembled as lillustrated and the discharge end of the carbureterl to be connected with an internalv combustion engine, not shown. The carbureting liquid is admitted to the reservoir 6 through supply pipe 11, and its level maintained by float 7 acting on needle valve 9 which has been previously adjusted. The

,throttle valve 59 isset partly open and the engine is started. Plugs 57 and 58 are removed and thermometers are inserted through openings 55.and 56 to indicate the temperature of the intake air and that of the carbureted mixture. Experience indi* cates that the temperature of the mixture of air and vapor should be maintained substantially at 110 I". for automobile practice. To maintain this temperature in the space in which thermosensitive element 41 is located, it isconvenient to keep the intake air at a temperature higher than this by about 30 to 35 F. Thereforehthe thermostatic element 24 in the intake pipe is adjusted to maintain the incoming air at about 140 to 145 F. These temperatures may be varied, however, to suit special conditions, and are merely7 given by way of illustration. vThe temperatures on the thermometers are noted and if the difference in their readings is more or less than selected for standardizing the device, the spring 54 is adjusted thereby admitting or cutting'of the quantity of liquid vaporized into the chamber. If the difference noted is too great, the temperature of the mixture of air and vapor is too low and is to be raised by reducing the admission of carbureting liquid which, in assuming the vapor state, absorbs'heat from the air and lowers the temperature of the'mixture. If the dierence is less` than desired, the reverse operation is indicated. When the difference desired is attained, the thermometers are removed and the openings 55 and 56 are closed by replacing the screw plugs.

Should now the demand on the carbureter Change, either by reason of the change 1n the -running of the engine or by manipulation of of the air inlet opening,.thereby resulting in a disproportionate increase in the flo of the vaporizable liquid. Under these ,cbni

ditions, a reduction of temperature occurs.

around the thermostatic vessel 41, thereby causing the latter to contract and lower the needle valve 13 which then reduces the flow of' the vaporizable liquid to the chamber. Should, however, conditions be such that no appreciable reduction of pressure takes place in the carbureter the throttle is opened or when there 'ifs-ian increased demand on the carbureter by the engine, the temperature of the air and vapor rises in the carbureter chamber. The thermostatic element 41 will expand, thereby raising the needle valve to admit more vaporizable liquid to meet the increased flow of air. If, on the other hand, the demand on the carbureter falls off, the temperature of the air and vapor mixture` lowers and causes a contracting movement of vessel 41 and a reduction of the flow of gasolene and a. restoration to normal proportions of air and vapor. It will thus be seen that the predetermined proportions of air and vapor are automatically maintained and a predetermined mixture is supplied under the various working conditions of the engine. Owing to the multiplicity of corrugations in the thermosensitive element 41 a very slight change in temperature causes movement of the needle valve 13 which isthereby controlled between extremely narrow limits of variation in the composition of the air and vapor mixture.

It is .to be understood that I do not desire to be restricted in the use of my invention to any particular variety or form of thermo'stat, yet I prefer to use the form shown,

nor do I wish to be limited to the location of the connections between the thermostat and llquid fuel supply as these connections may be made outside the carbureter, nor to the particular form of carbureter as other v forms than that illustrated may be used.

What I claim is 1. In a carbureter, means for maintaining a predetermined temperature of the air supplied to the carbureter, means for supplying carbureting liquid thereto, and thermosensitive` means in the path ofthe carbureted air for controlling the liquid supply means.l

, 2. In a carbureter, means for maintaining a predetermined temperature of the air sup-L plied to the carbureter, means for supplying carbureting liquid thereto, thermosensitive means in the path of the carbureted a'ir for controlling the liquid supply means, and means adjusting said last-named means for maintaining a predetermined composition of said mixture.

3. ln a carbureter, means for controlling' the temperature of the air entering the carbureter, valve controlled liquid :tuel supply means for said carbureter, and means responsive to thetemperature of the air and vapor mixture in the carbureter for controlling said valve means.

4. lin a carbureter, means for controlling the temperature of the air entering said carbureter, valve controlled liquid fuel supply means for said carbureter, thermosensitive means responsive to the temperature ofthe air and vapor mixture in the carbureter, connections between said valve means and said thermosensitive means, and means acting through said connections to adjust the valve means.

5. ln a carbureter, a conduit open to an -air supply which is kept at constant temperature, means for introducing a Vaporizable liquid into said conduit and thermo-` sensitive means exposed to the mixture of air and Vaporized liquid for controlling the relative supply of said liquid to said gas supply.

6. ln a carbureter, a conduit open to an air supply which is kept at constant temperature, means for introducing a vaporizable liquid into said conduit, thermosensitive means exposed to said mixture of ai'r and vaporizedy liquid for controlling the relative supply of liquid to said gaslsupply, connections between said last-named means and said supply means, and means acting through said connecting means to adjust said devices.

7. ln a carbureter, means for controlling the temperaturefof air entering the carbureter, means for supplying a carbureting iuid to the carbureter, a thermosensitive vibratory vessel responding to the temperature of the resulting mixture of air and carbureting fluid and controlling said supply means.

8. In a carbureter, means for controlling the temperatureof air'entering the carbureter, valve controlled liquid supply means admitting carbureting fluid to the carbureter, a thermosensitive vibrating vessel responding to the temperature of the resulting mixture of air and carbureting Huid and meagre? controlling said supply means, and means for adjusting said valve to permit a predetermined composition of air and carburet- 4 ing Huid to be maintained by said vessel. L f 9. In a carbureter, the combination oft thermosensitive means located in the air intake pipe for controlling the temperature of the incoming air, a discharge conduit controlled by a throttle valve vand valve controlled means supplying the carbureter with carbureting liquid, a thermosensitive vibrating vessel in the path of the air and vapor mixture operative above and below a predetermined difference of temperature between that of the incoming air and said mixture to control said supply means and maintain the composition ofthe air and vapor mixture constant.

10. ln a carbureter, thecombination of thermosensitive means located in the air intake pipe for controlling the temperature o' theI incoming air, a discharge conduit controlled by a throttle valve and valve controlled means supplying the carbureter with carbureting liquid, a thermosensitive vibrating vessel in the path of the air and vapor mixture operative above and below a predetermined difference of temperature between that of the incoming air and said mixture -`to control said supply means, and means for adjusting said supply Valve'to permit a predetermined composition of air 'and vapor to be maintained by said vessel.

11. Vlin a, carbureter, the combination of thermosensitive means located in the air intake pipe for controlling the temperature of the incoming air, a` discharge conduit controlled by a throttle valve and having a valve controlled air inlet port, va,lve controlled means supplying the carbureter with carbureting liquid, a thermosensitive Vibrating vessel in the path of the air and vapor mixture operative. above and below a predetermined diiierence of temperature betweenv that of the incoming air and said mixture tol cont'rol said supply means and maintain the composition of the air and vapor mixture constant.

ln testimony whereof l have signed this specification the presence of two subscribing witnesses;

WESTON M. FULTON. Witnesses:

H. S. MCCOY, C. H. BROWN, Jr. L 

